ANNUAL ALLIANCE REPORT
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
and the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA)
October 6, 2011

Alliance Background

Date Signed

September 24, 2008

Evaluation Period

September 24, 2010 - September 23, 2011

Overview

The OSHA and AFSA Alliance focuses on providing AFSA's members and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employees' health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to material handling and fall hazards and addressing motor vehicle safety issues.

Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop training and education programs for fire sprinkler installers regarding material handling, fall and motor vehicle safety issues and to provide expertise in communicating such information to employers and employees in the construction industry.

During this evaluation period, the OSHA and AFSA Alliance Implementation Team has not completed work on programs or projects to address this goal.

Outreach and Communication Goals

Work with OSHA to provide expertise in developing information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards, and to provide expertise in developing ways of communicating such information (e.g. print and OSHA's and AFSA's Web sites) to employers and employees in the fire sprinkler installation industry.

Products

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Series

Through the OSHA and AFSA Alliance, the AFSA developed a series of toolbox talks that addresses an overview of PPE and Hard Hats. AFSA posted the PPE toolbox talks on its Alliance Web site and OSHA established a link to it on the OSHA and AFSA Web page and the Alliance Program Participant Developed Product page on the OSHA Web.

AFSA and OSHA Alliance-related Web Page

AFSA developed and maintains an OSHA and AFSA Alliance Web page on the AFSA Web site. The page has information on the OSHA and AFSA Alliance and links to the OSHA Web site. In addition, the Web site hosts resources developed by AFSA through the Alliance Program and links to OSHA resources such as the Distracted Driving Web page and the Record Keeping Advisor.

OSHA and AFSA Alliance Web Page

OSHA developed and maintains an OSHA and AFSA Web page that is posted on the OSHA Web site. The page includes the Alliance agreement, annual reports, news releases, information on activities and events of the Alliance and links to resources developed by AFSA through the Alliance Program.

OSHA Electronic Tools

Through the OSHA and AFSA Alliance, AFSA representatives are continuing to participate on the editorial boards for the following Safety and Health Topics pages:

Fall Protection

Fire Safety

Motor Vehicle Safety

Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or AFSA's conferences, local meetings, or other events, including the AFSA Convention and Exhibition.

OSHA representatives from Region I staffed an Alliance Program exhibit booth and distributed OSHA Safety and Health publications to conference attendees.

Work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects on safety and health issues, including those related to fire sprinkler installation, that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.

During this evaluation period, the OSHA and AFSA Alliance Implementation Team has not completed work on programs or projects to address this goal.

Encourage AFSA local boards to build relationships with OSHA's Regional and Area Offices to address health and safety issues, including fall protection and materials handling.

During this evaluation period, the OSHA and AFSA Alliance Implementation Team has not completed work on programs or projects to address this goal.

Promoting the National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health Goal

Convene or participate in forums, roundtable discussions, or stakeholder meetings on ground support operations issues to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.

On February 17, 2011, a representative from the American Fire Sprinkler Association participated in the OSHA Alliance Program Construction Roundtable meeting in Washington, D.C. During the meeting, Alliance Program participants received OSHA updates, discussed products developed through the Roundtable, including the next series of draft Construction Workplace Design Solutions, and identified potential projects and compliance assistance resources to help address safety and health hazards in the construction industry.

The American Fire Sprinkler Association and a number of other Alliance Program participants supported 2011 NAOSH Week. Sponsored annually by the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), an Alliance Program participant, and the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering, the Week focuses on the importance of preventing injuries and illnesses in the workplace. The theme for 2011 was "Celebrating a Century of Safety."

To help support the week, AFSA emailed the 2010 NAOSH Week promotional materials to AFSA staff and local chapters and published information on the week in the AFSA newsletter.

On September 20, 2011, a representative from the American Fire Sprinkler Association participated in the OSHA Alliance Program Construction Roundtable meeting in Washington, D.C. During the meeting, Alliance Program participants received OSHA updates, discussed products developed through the Roundtable, including the next series of draft Construction Workplace Design Solutions, and identified potential projects and compliance assistance resources to help address safety and health hazards in the construction industry.

Executive Summary

During the OSHA and AFSA Alliance's third year, the organizations further established a productive working relationship. Through the OSHA and AFSA Alliance, AFSA developed and disseminated the PPE Series of toolbox talks. AFSA posted the toolbox talks on its Web site and OSHA posted links to the toolbox talks on the OSHA and AFSA Web page and the Alliance Program Participant Developed Product page on the OSHA Web site.

AFSA representatives are sharing their expertise with OSHA by participation in reviewing OSHA's electronic assistance tools. AFSA members are serving on editorial boards for Fall Protection, Fire Safety, and Motor Vehicle Safety and Health Topics pages.

In addition, AFSA invited an OSHA representative from the National Office to give a presentation during their 2010 Annual Convention and Expo. OSHA personnel staffed Alliance exhibit booths at both the 2010 and 2011 Annual Conventions.

Finally, as part of their outreach, AFSA supported and promoted 2011 NAOSH Week and participated in two Alliance Program Construction Roundtables.

Over the next year, OSHA and AFSA will continue to work together to providing AFSA's members and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employees' health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to material handling and fall hazards and addressing motor vehicle safety issues. The OSHA and AFSA Alliance Implementation Team will develop a series of toolbox talks that address hazards in the fire sprinkler instillation industry.

AFSA representatives will continue to serve on three Safety and Health Topics page's editorial boards and support 2010 NAOSH Week. Moreover, AFSA will a representative from invite an OSHA representative to give a presentation at the AFSA Annual Convention and Expo 2009 which will be held in San Diego, California on October 14-18, 2009. Finally, AFSA will invite OSHA representatives to participate in local AFSA chapter meetings to help promote OSHA's Cooperative Programs.